Regularly sitting for prolonged periods, especially slouched, can lead to orthopedic problems. But the problems arise almost always from joints, not muscles. I continually hear people (health professionals, notably) declare that sitting’s “shortened” position of the hip flexors can cause painful, tight hip flexors. Granted this doesn’t affect all sitters (nothing does), but if large amounts of time in shortened states can lead to painfully tight muscles, then where is the observable pattern? Why aren’t more biceps affected secondary to prolonged elbow bending? Where’s the complaint of painful anterior neck muscles as our heads are so often forward?​Though I make my case verbally, people won’t budge. It’s likely the only way to prove my point would be to demonstrate an evaluation and treatment of someone with this given “diagnosis.” In the absence of that, I put forth that, one, we have ways of clinically determining if this is occurring, which, importantly, involves ruling out joints and nerves. Two, if we consider joint mechanics, deranged upper-mid lumbar segments and hip joints can send referred/radicular pain to the hip flexor area. Deranged elbows usually refer pain to the medial, lateral, or posterior elbow. And neck derangements typically send pain posteriorly and laterally – rarely anteriorly. The deranged joint pattern is observable. --Laura

Here’s a list of exercises I may prescribe for a person who complains of shoulder pain. I’m sure I’m missing a few, but my point is to illustrate that “shoulder pain” is a symptom, not a diagnosis. There's no universal fix for pain in the shoulder just like there's no universal fix for head pain or chest pain. I evaluate the person, make a diagnosis, and find the specific exercise a patient needs. Patients almost always get just one exercise at a time. ​-seated cervical retraction -seated cervical retraction-extension-seated cervical retraction-extension-rotation-seated cervical extension-seated cervical flexion-seated cervical protrusion-seated cervical lateral flexion toward-seated cervical lateral flexion away-seated cervical rotation toward-seated cervical rotation away[all of the above also in supine][all of the above also sustained]-seated thoracic extension-seated thoracic lateral flexion toward-seated thoracic lateral flexion away-seated thoracic rotation toward-seated thoracic rotation away-seated thoracic flexion-prone cervical retraction-prone cervical extension-prone thoracic extension-supine thoracic extension over a fulcrum[all of the above also sustained]-shoulder extension-shoulder functional internal rotation-shoulder internal rotation-shoulder extension with internal rotation-shoulder horizontal abduction-shoulder horizontal adduction-shoulder functional external rotation-shoulder external rotation-shoulder internal rotation in flexion or abduction-shoulder external rotation in flexion or abduction-shoulder flexion-shoulder abduction[shoulder exercises also with resistance]-shoulder caudal glides[all movements may also be performed as clinician mobilization]

If you are not well-versed in ruling out the spine as the source of an extremity symptom, you are missing roughly half of the sources of patients’ problems. This issue can be mitigated if the patient has been referred from someone whom you trust has already effectively clinically cleared the spine. Often, however, people with knee pain go directly to a “knee doctor” or those with numb hands visit a “hand doctor” who, in my experience, only examine that specific body part.

A system, an algorithm, is needed to ensure success in any paradigm. In my practice, experience and pattern recognition factor in, but a structured process directs my evaluation and treatment. Most importantly, a patient’s spine is investigated before moving on to an extremity. I’ll say we need to ensure the problem is not coming from a faulty fuse box (since so often it is). How long I spend on this inquiry can be minutes, it can be days - it depends on the individual case.​There is certainly a role for these professionals, but our current utilization methods need revamping. Let’s use extremity specialists only when it’s clear-cut that that intervention would be most effective for helping patients. --Laura

Try to know the source of your orthopedic information the best you can. There is a huge amount of incorrect information out there and, as this phenomenon illustrates, people who know very little yet think they know a lot. I am happy to share my education and my experience with people and can easily admit when I don't know something. (This definition and graph courtesy of Wikipedia.)-- Laura